Magnetic separator.



No. 708485. Pamntedf agpt; 2, I902. Y

J. P. WETHERILL. MAGNETIC SEPABATOR. A ximion flied Aug. 26, 1901.

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No. 70.8,l85. Patented Sept. 2, I902. J. P. WETHEBILL. MAGNETIC SEPARATOR. (Application filed Aug. 26, 1901.

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No. 708,!85; I Patented Sept. 2, I902.

' J. P. WETHERILL.

MAGNETIC SEPABATOR.

(Application filed Aug. 26, 1901.) (No Model.)

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UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN PRICE l/VETHERILL, OF SOUTH BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAGNETIC SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,185, dated September 2, 1902.

Application filed August 26, 1901. Serial No. 73,297. (No model.)

To all whmn it 111.00g concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN PRICE WETH- ERILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Bethlehem, county of Northampton, State of Pennsylvania, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Magnetic Separators; and I do hereby declare the following. to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable oth ers skilled in the art to which it appertains to netic or relatively non-magnetic material con-.

tained in the mixture of ore or like substance treated.

My invention is designed. principally for the treatment of finesvrand of material of relatively low magnetic susceptibility or permeability, although it will be understood that the fundamental features of construction and operation shown and described are capable of use in similar apparatus intendedjfor the treatment of material of any suitable size or mesh and even of highly-magnetic material, such as magnetite and the like.

The main or characteristic feature of the invention consists in supplying the material to be separated to interpolar spaces or gaps formed between opposing magnet-poles immersed in a suitable water tank or vat, whereupon the heads are detained in said interpolar spaces until the accompanying railings have been washed away, and continuously removing the detained heads by means of a scraper as they are freed from their associated tailings, the heads and tailings being collected in separate receptacles or places of deposit and collection. I have devised several forms of apparatus embodying this fundamental principle of operation, one of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Others are illustrated in additional applications for Letters Patent of the United States, filed of even date herewith, Serial Nos; 7 3,298 and 73,299.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a top plan view of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation thereof with the containing tank or vessel shown in section. Fig. 3 represents a cross-sectional view, partly in elevation. I

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a containing tank or vessel adapted to receive a supply of water maintained at about the level indicated by the dotted line in Figs. 2 and 3. Within said water-tank A project the opposing poles at of two electromagnets B, so arranged as to form a complete magnetic circuit having two interpolar spaces or gaps constituting magnetic fields of high concentration, due to the pointed or wedgeshaped form of the polar projections. Supply-hoppers 0, provided at their lower ends with the feed-rollers 1), supply the fines or other material to be separated to the aprons c, pivoted, as shown,and adjustable by means of-the notched links a or otherwise, the ma- .terial being directed from said aprons into the interpolar spaces or gaps. At opposite ends of the tank are erected the rotatory shafts D, one of which is adapted to be driven from a belt-pulley E or the like. These shafts carry grooved pulleys F, which pulleys are spanned by a belt G, carrying aseries of scraper-blades d, of brass or other non-magnetic lnateriahsaid' blades having a shape or configuration corresponding to that of the wedge-shaped pole-pieces, so as to substantially fit the space between said polepieces, as will more fully appear on reference to Fig. 3. Perforated pipes H, having regulating-valves-as, for instance, h-are designed to direct a series of water-jets into the interpolar spaces and to this end may conveniently be located just within and slightly above the interpolar spaces. Immediately below andoutside of the interpolar spaces are locatedthe receiving-hoppers I, having suitable gates, as shown, and immediately within said interpolar spaces are located the inclines J, which themselves terminate in valved hoppers K, as shown in Fig." 2. At one end of the interpolar spaces are located the hoppers L, designed for the reception of the magnetizable portions or heads, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The fines or other material of suitable mesh to be separated are fed from the hoppers C by means of the feed-rollers b and are directed by the adjustable aprons c into the interpolar spaces or gaps. At the same time the belt G and its scraper-blades are caused to move in the direction indicated by the arrows, Fig. 1, and the pipes H direct a series of water-jets through the interpolar spaces. The magnetic particles are thereupon attracted and detained by the magnet-poles, and while thus detained the non-magnetic or relatively non-magnetic material associated therewith is separated by the dissolving action of the water and the impact of the water-jets and is washed away, falling for the most part into the hoppers I. The scraper-blades, operating within the interpolar spaces, progressively remove the attracted material by causing it to move toward and into the receivinghoppers L, some portions, however, falling upon the inclines J and being received in the hoppers K. It will of course be understood that the operation is intended to be a continuous one, the feed of material from the hoppers (3 being maintained as nearly constant as possible during the travel of scrapers and the play of the water-jets.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is 1. A magnetic separator comprising magnet-poles spaced apart to form an intervening gap traversed by the magnetic lines of force, means for feeding into said gap the material to be separated, means for washing out the non-attracted particles from the particles detained by magnetic attraction in said gap, and a scraper for removing the attracted particles, said scraper having projections which scrape both pole-pieces; substantially as described.

2. A magnetic separator comprising an upper magnet-pole and a lower magnet-pole spaced apart to form an intervening gap traversed by the magnet lines of force, means for feeding into said gap the material to be separated, means for washing out the non-attracted particles from the particles detained by magnetic attraction in said gap, and a scraper having its path of movement through the gap, and provided with a series of scraper-blades extending transversely of the gap in such manner as to scrape both pole-pieces; sub stantially as described.

3. A magnetic separator, comprising an upper magnet-pole and a lower magnet-pole spaced apart to form an intervening gap, said magnet-poles being pointed or wedge-shaped at their ends to concentrate the lines of force across the gap, means for feeding into said gap the material to be separated, means for washing out the non-attracted particles from the particles detained by magnetic attraction in the gap, and a scraper having its path of movement through the gap and provided with scraper-blades of a configuration conforming to the outline of the pole ends, substantially as described.

4. A magnetic separator, comprising magnet-poles separated by an intervening gap traversed by the magnetic lines of force, means for feeding into said gap the material to be separated, a jet-pipe for expelling the non-attracted particles from the particles detained by magnetic attraction in said gap, and a scraper for removing the attracted particles, said scraper having projections which scrape both pole-pieces; substantially as described.

5. A magnetic separator, comprising magnet-poles separated by an intervening gap traversed by the magnetic lines of force, means for feeding into said gap the material to be separated, a jet-pipe for expelling the non-attracted particles from the particles detained by magnetic attraction in said gap, a scraper for removing the attracted particles, and a water vat or tank in which the magnetpoles and jet-pipe are immersed; substantially as described.

6. A magnetic separator, comprising an upper magnet and a lower magnet, of substantially U shape in cross-section and having their opposing poles so related as to form with the cores a magnetic circuit with two gaps, means for feeding into said gaps the material to be separated, jet-pipes for expelling the non-attracted particles from the particles detained by magnetic attraction in the gaps, and a scraper consisting of an endless belt provided with a series of scraper-blades having a path of movement successively through the gaps and extendihg transversely of the gap in such manner as to scrape both polepieces; substantially as described.

'7. A magnetic separator, comprising an upper magnetpole and a lower magnet-pole spaced apart to form an intervening gap, means for feeding into said gap the material to be separated, a vat or tank containing water in which the magnet-poles'are submerged, a scraper operating within the gap, a jet-pipe having its jet-openings directed through the gap, laterally-disposed hoppers to receive the non-attracted particles, and an end hopper to receive the attracted particles as they are conveyed to it by the scraper; substantially as described.

8. A magnetic separator, consisting of upper and lower U-shaped magnets whose poles are so arranged as to form a magnetic circuit with two gaps, outlying hoppers for supplying to said gaps the material to be separated, jet-pipes whose jets are directed through the gaps on the opposite side to the feed, an endless belt carrying scraper-blades having a path of movement successively through the gaps, laterally-disposed hoppers to receive the non-attracted particles, and an end hop- IIO into said gap the material to be separated, a Water-containing tank within which the separator-poles are submerged, a jet-pipe whose jets are directed laterally through the gap, and a longitudinallymoving scraper; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN PRICE WETHERILL.

Witnesses:

CHAS. WETHERILL, J. STACY BROWN. 

